Which race is the most fun, Texas or St. George? I’m looking for energy and a place my friends and family will have a great time watching the race.
I did both Texas and St George in 2011 (and St George in 2010). I think that St George is a much better race. Tough call on the energy. Both had a lot of people watching. It will be easier to watch the race in the Woodlands. St George has a spectator shuttle out to the swim start (25 miles from town). It takes a long time to get back to town after the swim. They changed the St George run course this year, so it will be much more spectator friendly, but the shuttle is a drawback
Thanks very much for the feedback. For a first time Full IM, would St. George still be the way to go with the new run course or would Texas be an easier time on a first timer?
The Texas course is much, much easier on the bike (SG bike was 6:37, TX was 5:44). The new run course at SG will be easier than the one before, probably similar in difficulty to Texas. SG has an epic feel to it on all 3 legs. Texas is an urban triathlon that just happens to be really long
One most also factor in the heat and humidity at IMTX. We sort of got “lucky” this year in that the max temp only got to 91 and the heat index stayed a little below 100. The IMTX swim also sucks donkey balls. I really liked the IMTX bike and the run was pretty nice… with the exception of the damn heat.
One most also factor in the heat and humidity at IMTX. We sort of got “lucky” this year in that the max temp only got to 91 and the heat index stayed a little below 100. The IMTX swim also sucks donkey balls. I really liked the IMTX bike and the run was pretty nice… with the exception of the damn heat.
Just curious why you thought the swim was bad at TX? I’m tossing around SG/TX as well. Gross water? TT start? Was it mixed personal flotation device/competitor swim?
Jamie
Not sure if this is true but I herd that St. George has a competition with its aid stations. Each aid station has a theme and then the athletes vote on the best one. If this is true I think that would be pretty cool to bike through.
The swim at TX was no wetsuit if competing for Kona slots or AG podium. That made a mess IMO. Those w/o wetties on had trouble. At least I did due to all the people in suits.
Hopefully IM will sort this out soon. At least by next spring!
The swim at TX was no wetsuit if competing for Kona slots or AG podium. That made a mess IMO. Those w/o wetties on had trouble. At least I did due to all the people in suits.
Hopefully IM will sort this out soon. At least by next spring!
hmm. That’s almost a show stopper for me. Was it mass or TT start?
Jamie
HTFU and sign-up… it’s an IM for Gods sake…
Your choice or not too be a wet wennie or not, just do it your way!
Just saying…
Kevin S.
One most also factor in the heat and humidity at IMTX. We sort of got “lucky” this year in that the max temp only got to 91 and the heat index stayed a little below 100. The IMTX swim also sucks donkey balls. I really liked the IMTX bike and the run was pretty nice… with the exception of the damn heat.
Just curious why you thought the swim was bad at TX? I’m tossing around SG/TX as well. Gross water? TT start? Was it mixed personal flotation device/competitor swim?
Jamie
It’s a mass start. I wouldn’t say the water is gross but it’s murky. You can’t see but a foot in front of you.
The problem with that swim is the logistics of the course. It’s in a narrow lake to begin with and it was very narrow with the buoys. You can see from the map below that you start from the north and swim south and turn around and head back north. They were very strict about staying to the right of the buoy line because they obviously didn’t want anyone cutting the course. The worst part of the swim was the last 1000m in the canal section. It’s very narrow - 50 feet wide at best - and they had it buoy lined. Not sure why because the walls of the canal are 10 feet high so there’s nowhere to go but we maybe had 35-40 feet to work with. It became a lowest common denominator swim through the canal. You could only go as fast as the swimmers in front of you. It was a logjam. Most IM swims thin out but TX never did. It was crowded from start to finish and I’m an above average swimmer (1:10 at IMTX).
The mix of wetsuits vs non-wetsuits (1/3 wore wetsuits) certainly attributed to keeping everyone closer together. Apparently that wasn’t as bad as IMLP where 2/3 chose to wear wetsuits.
That is true about the aid stations. They create entire cities out of the aid station… it’s VERY cool. There are so many volunteers you will get 3 to1 athlete help. Probably hold your bike while you pee. slather you with sunscreen, etc…
As for the swim- I don’t know how TX is, but I read a lot of athletes getting cuts as it was so narrow they got pushed to the shallows. You won’t find a prettier lake to swim in that Sand Hollow in St. George. I swim their weekly and have 20-30 feet of visibility. Sometimes I think I am in the Caribbean- and then I see a bass swim under me. 
I didn’t do St. George but was in Texas. The race is not very public friendly as the bike is just one loop and you won’t seem much of the athletes during all day. The Woodlands are a nice community but I wouldn’t take my friends/family to see that race. St. George looks like an awesome venue.
I live in Texas and raced St. George in 2010 (inaugural year). IMHO…
St. George - water is a great swim, could possibly be choppy if a windy day, but will always be wetsuit legal and possibly extremely cold. Not so in 2011, but it was about 50 degrees in 2010 and made for very frigid conditions. Still an awesome swim. The bike course is a very honest course with only 1-2 “stand up” climbers, some fast descents into town, and some false flats to keep you honest on lap 2. The wind can play a factor and I would probably not ride a disc on this course due to the possible wind conditions on the descent into town. The days leading up to it were literally 60 mph winds. Race day was great and light winds, but there is that possibility. Can’t speak for the run since it is changing in 2012, but can say with it being multiple loops through town, I would expect it to be a pretty flat, fast, and spectator friendly course. Even with the previous run course, the fans were top notch on the run course.
Texas - Live here, many friends raced it. I have raced there before, just not the IM. the water is like swamp water…very muggy, EXTREMELY “DARK” if you get my drift, and overall a pretty bad experience to be had by all on this swim. The bike is all relatively flat considering the area you race and really only have to deal with stupid people that like to walk in front of cyclists and get hit, or cars that are impatient and run over cyclists. You will no doubt ride faster in this race than St. George if time is all you are focused on. Run is all flat, much on concrete, very confusing on a map to understand, and very spectator friendly all through the town.
My choice…St. George…and if you are really focused on Kona slot, probably better odds at St. George than Texas…IMHO.
tc
Thanks for the good summation. How were the air temps at IMSG in 2010/2011? I can deal w/cold water but really don’t want to freeze my butt off during the bike.
Are the bike descents technical or pretty ez?
thanks,
Jamie
Anyone from the Northeast (or any cold climate) do St. George? I’m considering it, but just don’t know how I’d hold up with training through the winter. I actually enjoy running in the cold, and the swimming will obviously be done at the pool, but doing some long rides on the trainer could get pretty miserable.
Just looking for a few thoughts here if anyone has been in the same situation.
If I sign up I’ll be coming from flat, cold Indianoplace, IN. I train 100% year round on the trainer w/PT and so far it hasn’t let me down. If you can handle it mentally, you’ll be better for it, IMO.
Jamie
bike descents at SG are pretty ez…just really fast. The road coming into town (the decline you see at the end of each loop) is pretty steady 25-45 mph without pedaling. The only technical part comes if it is a windy day as the cross winds coming down at that speed can be a bit sketchy IMO. The rest is pretty average…the false flats gets you more than anything else.
Temperatures - I have never had this happen before, but I was so cold coming into T1, that I was almost convulsing/shaking and was hard to get my bike stuff on. Left T1 and my teeth chattered for 90 minutes (no lie!!!). The outdoor air was probably upper 50’s but after being submerged for an hour in 50 degrees, my body just took awhile to warmup. In 2011, it was drastically different. Mid 60’s water, 60’s air, and then warmed to upper 90’s I think on the run…very hot day! So you never know. There is no shade anywhere though.
We had a bad winter in Texas that year with lots of sleet, rain, 20-30 degree weather so I spent most of Dec-Feb on the trainer doing long rides and while it is mind-numbing boring, it got the job done. I’m a cold weather bike weanie though.
My friend have done both of events, He said He really enjoyed Tx, because it much more fun and easier on the course and have lot of people, who re watching the event. As for St.George really tough course, the bike course is lot of hills, Compare to tx’s hills. but couldnt beat utah’s beautiful envirnoment. If you want go easier courses with lot of suport then go to TX. if you want challenge courses and breath in fresh air go to St.G.
I’ve done SG 2X
It was extremely well run
Great support from the town
Fun event
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